Villains Drenched in Poisons CD

I guess the US retro-thrash revolution is a few years behind the Euro wave, but it killer none the less(Dead Child, Early Man, Mericless, Toxic Holocaust,etc). That's what I was expecting when I picked this up. It opens with a more black metal type vibe (blackened thrash perhaps?) but is clearly under the influence of the 80s
Villains are from NYC and dropped this 8 song killer on Aurora Borealis Records.
Featuring Thralldom and Unearthly Trance member Killusion.
Classic song titles like "Seduce and Destroy" let you know whats up. Kreator'ish vocals, but they aren't scared to drop some high pitch screams either-more King Diamond than Overkill, but it works. It shifts into a more straight ahead thrash metal style for the middle 2-3 tracks and then heads back into a more black metal style.
They seem to be trying to channel the scummier side of life in NYC and this comes through in the art and graphics. I'm sure the lyrics further the effort, but I didn't check them out. They have managed a metallic alphabet variation that is extremely illegible. Good job guys!

Giro Tragedy!!

Wim Van Huffel has abandoned! Another nail in the coffin of my prognostication skills.

Withdrawn Records care package/triple threat

Got three releases from Withdrawn records today. Mammoth Hunter, Randy Colbourne, and Mirror to Mirror/Revivor. All in some sort unique/non traditional packaging. Highly limited so you better act fast.
The Withdrawn Records/Randall Colbourne relationships spans many years and records so before you start blabbing about Corsano this or free-wave that stop and recognize that this guy was making (insert Forced Exposure skronk hyperbole here) free music back when "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was blowing your mind in junior high. Anyway Randy moves from drums only to all instruments here. 12 tracks recorded in a cellar 2001-2003. Not unexpected based on his previous catalog of work and fear not he is still playing the drums. "Mr.Ra" has an awesome Godzilla'ish effect in it. Brother RM has some killer noise and effects and kind of reminds me of that scene in Patton when he flashes back to his past life in the Roman Empire. This is a great record. It is greater when you realize that one dude played it all. Can you improvise with yourself?

Mammoth Hunter drop 5 tracks of guitar and drum damage recorded live on 11/19/2006. This is LiveII which reminds me of the classic High Rise album title High Rise II(Read. I mean literally the title. Do not expect some Blue Cheer blown out shit. Same rule would apply if I said Led Zeppelin II-don't expect some over the top Brit Blues Rock-you follow me?). You might think you are in for some trippy meandering shit as the first track starts off, but give it a minute and it builds up to some intense yet restrained rock. Kind of like the quiet kid in the back of the class that will stab someone before senior year. A little Unwound perhaps maybe a touch of Bitch Magnet. Heavy but with a dark melancholy sort of vibe, that is not spoiled by some stupid singer. Nice. This is my favorite out of the bunch, but I am closer to a classic rock jughead than a free music or experimental music aficionado so that should be no surprise.

Last up is Mouth to Mouth/Revivor split 3" CDR. You know I thought the regular 5" CDR scene was getting too commercial so it is nice to see a new medium keeping it underground.... This is some experimental electronic shit. Not my cup of tea. Fairly dynamic for this style of music. Cover is rad. Over before you are bored which is a plus.
Withdrawn Records is like the Baskins and Robbins of oddball CT and Central Mass outsider rock and noise, so no matter what your flavor, they have what you want.

WMBR Stax tribte

Had the good fortune to be out and driving around last Thursday when Christopher Vyce dropped a Stax tribute show. Mega. Regardless of how you feel about the Stax rebirth, you can't fuck with that catalog and the hits.
I can't figure out a more elegant way to do this so apologies up front, go here and select the the 05/24 Lost and Found show. Rock out and if you know a better way to link this let me know.
Killer show. Big ups to Mr.Vyce.
PS if you don't know about MBR check the site and especially the Sat AM Backwoods show by John Funke
And daily they are dropping hits on Breakfast of Champions and Late Risers Club so use that computer if you are out of radio range!

PS there is a version of "wade in the water" that is so mega, wait for it. get it.

Pissed Jeans Hope For Men CD

It seems like a strange trip from Parts Unknown Records to SubPop, but that is the path Pissed Jeans have taken. 10 songs on Sub Pop. I had been hearing all about this band, but missed out on their 1st record and 7". Supposedly some super abrasive hardcore with a heavy nod to the early Touch and Go noise scene. A lot of good bands get name checked in regards to these guys so was definitely intrigued and psyched to throw this on, but I was also ready for a let down.
Opens up with a pounding anthem that brings to mind the Jesus Lizard and Birthday Party. Rambles,shambles, and stumbles along that short of a path. Other names like Black Flag, Germs,Dicks come to mind here and there. This is truly some fucked up and abrasive post-core/post punk whatever. Gets a little "how much art" on the last couple tracks, but still holds it together. The last track is a 7 minute plus tour de rock that gets popping after a few meandering mintues. Despite the fact that this is good and a unique take on some past giants, I don't think that I would pick this over some of the previously mentioned bands, if I had a few minutes to rock out to some demented rock action. I would be tempted to go see them live and see if the live up to their rep.

Ricco!!

I pray his success does not cause cycling pundits to resurrect the "rico sauve" line and I hope Ricco is a name to watch in the next few years. Saunier Duval are pounding people in the mountains. Piepoli(who I am sick of being called "pint sized" and "pocket sized", etc) has been a serious veteran presence for Ricco and support for Simoni. Sad to think he and Simoni will be gone soon. DiLuca did not crack and that is huge for him. If he can avoid the one bad day he seems to be plauged with every year, he might just win the Giro! Mazzoleni is lucky not only to hold onto second, but to be engaged to the lovey Elisa Basso. That makes up for the aqua blue kit anyday. This is a great giro and is the podium(at least steps 2 and 3) is still fairly open. The time trial will be key and Zoncolon should be huge, but I am waiting to see if it is too hard to really make a difference.

Several other races wrapped up today. Vlad Karpets gets the overall at Catalunya. Sammy Sanchez got the win on the last stage-managing to beat Vino. Vino has been so quiet, his TDF will make or break his season. That is risky.
Jesse Anthony from Sierra Nevada got 4th in Ireland at the FBD Insurance Rás. Sierra Nevada stomped on this race.
All in all an exciting week in cycling. Good racing, doping revelations,etc. If the Giro is any indicator the TDF should be wide open this weekend and will suit and aggressive rider with a strong team.

Cycling Sunday

Garzelli jumps Simoni for the win yesterday, but Simoni is the big winner grabbing back 50 seconds from DiLuca who remains in pink. DiLuca has been dealing with the mountains much better than the past. With 2 decisive stages left after today(Zoncolan and ITT) it is getting close and someone is going to have to get aggressive to shake this race up. Today will be critical for guys like Simoni and Cunego to put the pressure on and pull back more time. The 3 big climbs today should help. Top Ten:
1 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 62.10.40
2 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 0.55
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.57
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - Fondital 2.40
5 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Saunier Duval - Prodir 2.42
6 Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea (Spa) Lampre - Fondital 2.44
7 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.51
8 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Tinkoff Credit System 3.11
9 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Astana 3.15
10 Emanuele Sella (Ita) Ceramica Panaria - Navigare 3.52

Schleck and Brugseghing are having the rides of their lives with their careers at oppostite ends of the age spectrum. Can they hold on to the podium?
Wed is the Mt Zoncolan stage which is a beyond epic climb with pitches 20,22, and 18%. These epic Giro stages often don't shatter the race as much as you'd expect, but a bad day here for anyone in the top five could have them dropping right off the map. Especially when it comes at the end of 142K and 3 other climbs. Ouch!

In other news John DeVine holds the lead at Ronde de l'Isard with only today's stage remaining. US U23's kicking ass!
Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada's Canadian powerhouse Dominique Rollin took his third stage win at the FBD Ras stage race in Ireland. Jesse Anthony needs to get back 12 seconds to poduim there.
T-Mobile's Mark Cavendish grabbed a stage at Catalunya. Great results for him this year. I feel somewhat better about this race since Vladmir Karpets as taken the lead. Between Brutt and Karpets, you would think the only known cyclist in Russia was Laurent Brochard. Or maybe it is Ekimov's fault?